Europe
Picking at pies, upper crust countries and floppy failures
Although it’s believed the first pies originated in Italy, proper pies (i.e. ones made from butter/lard and flour) come from Northern Europe. […]
Year: 2019
Europe
The seven marvels of Portugal
A wee bit of research uncovered it was a competition which had been held every year since 2007, each year involving a different aspect of Portugal’s many natural and human-made attractions. It was like finding a direct insight into a ‘best of’ the country as known by residents. […]
As we walked out
Walking to the Igloo Village at Zermatt
Rotenboden is little more than a hut, far fewer people alight here. Liam tells us it’s an easy walk to and from our lunch objective, the Igloo Village. He also mentions the snow might be waist deep, yet is easy to walk through – “like walking through powder”. […]
Checking In
Hotels with personality, Waldhotel Fehrenbach in the Black Forest
I could give you a raft of reasons why the Waldhotel Fehrenbach in Alpersbach, little more than an extended meadow in Germany’s Black Forest, sticks in our minds as being a hotel with a stand out personality. […]
Travel Talk
The deception in travel writing
When you swim in the overcrowded waters of travel writing/blogging on a daily basis, you soon develop the ability to spot the tripwires which have authors, who haven’t visited destinations they write about, falling flat on their faces. […]
Hiking
The footballer’s cabin on Tenerife
The landscape is thirsty, the skeletal remains of grasses which weren’t exactly bushy to begin with look tinder-dry. Even in one of the sunniest spots of a sun-kissed island you might expect a dash more greenery in midwinter. […]
Hiking
Scenic saunters across Europe
Something occurred to me the other day as we stood on a ridge overlooking a valley in Arrabida, Portugal. Whenever I hear the name of a specific area the image which pops into my head usually isn’t one of just bricks and mortar, it’s often a countryside scene […]
Bavaria
There’s no guarantee you’ll like this travel destination
There’s history as rich as anywhere, Roman ruins, golden beaches, forests, plains, scenic ridges, Moorish castles, traditional towns, sprawling vineyards, more gastronomic specialities than you’d find in a trendy London deli, the people are exceedingly friendly, and there’s the Virgin Mary on a giant mule. […]
Food & drink
You say patata bravas I say batta harra, it’s all tapas
Tapas might be considered a Spanish ‘invention’ but it’s actually a sociable way of eating which is popular in many countries. […]
Andros
Adjusting to rural transport around Europe
As we specialise in hiking we regularly find ourselves in areas where figuring out how we’re going to travel to, or return from, a linear walking route using whatever local transport is available can prove somewhat of a ‘suck it and see’ exercise. […]
Food & drink
What’s wrong with a vegan sausage roll?
Does the idea of British bakery Greggs launching a vegan sausage roll incense or make sense? If the answer is the former, the big question is why? What’s your (I apologise in advance for this) beef? […]
La Palma
Scenes from the water’s edge
As the wintery sun yawns and slips towards the duvet of the horizon there’s a mini pilgrimage in Alcochete on the southern banks of the Tagus. The place of worship is Alcach, a bar with jazzy sounds and chairs facing west. […]